2004 Exocet Turbo Formula 2

[Steve]

I got my first ride on this board in light wind and flat water using a 12.5 2004 VMG sail. The wind started out very light and increased to 15 with some slightly higher gusts. After riding a 270 length Exocet formula board for the last 3 years it was a big change switching to a 230 length board. For my 210lbs I was a little worried about the short length and lower volume than my previous boards. Off a plane it is less comfortable than the bigger longer boards. As soon as it jumps onto a plane the smaller size instantly becomes a big plus with improved acceleration and a less physical ride. Even tacking the smaller board was not an issue as the shorter length goes through the tack faster than the longer board. I was very impressed with the upwind speed of the board as well as the angle. At first I was over-correcting due to the board's increased responsiveness. By the end of the day this was not an issue. Off the wind the board rides free of the water and drives off the back foot nicely. It seems to like a slightly flatter sail downwind than I usually run. Upwind it likes the sail to be set as full as posible while still sheeting in hard. I still have to dial in the track and foot strap positions. Can't wait to try it in some more wind but for a first test I was all smiles.

[Unregistered]

Concerning the sails, what are the changes to last years VMG?

[Steve]

The new 2004 Formula VMG has many changes. The sail is now lower aspect in the larger sizes. It has more positive shape down low and more negative shape up top. It is also using some carbon battens in sizes 9.8 and larger. The sail is also built of 100% grid material with extensive use of weight saving Pentex material. This is the best VMG sail yet, both from a construction and performance view point.

[Unregistered]

Hi Steve.
Great to hear some comments about the new exocet formula.
Did you have the opportunity to test speed and angle of TF2 against any other potent formulaboards?

I will probably order a TF2 soon, but i'm a little worried about the boards curvy outline and the widest point being so far back.
Other manufacturers tend to place the wide point further to the front of their boards to keep them more stable and controllable.

Maybe Patrice can explain the idea behind this shape??
Does it need a different sailingstyle than other boards with the wide point more to the front?

Curious

[Unregistered]

Hi,

We have been using curvy outline for very long time now, so far no one as really be able to prouve that straighter outline are going better, what I like on those kind of outline is that you can ride the board as if you are on a slalom type board, reason is because your footstrap are not in line and therefore you will not get so much preasure on the back foot.
It is as well much easier to go down wind with the back footstrap more inside, the main concern is the upwind capacity, the TF100² has a very good upwind angle, i found out that the curvy outline allows to accelerate much more in the gust.
It look like that Steve got some interesting feedback already knowing that it is the first time he used the board.

Patrice

[Koen B-12]

So it looks like for TF100² we have to trim it fully towards getting advantage in speed.

[John I]

I sailed alongside Steve on his first few runs. His upwind performance was better than ever on the TF2. I haven't ridden it yet, but will soon. I can see it being the right formula board for me just based on his inputs. It was great to see him grinning ear to ear, especially after all the workouts we did to improve the VMG. Thanks to Patrice and Koen for their help with the VMG R+D too.

[Unregistered]

Today i took my first ride on the turbo ÉÉ board!
It was really nice, fun and fast but my upwind angle not the greatest.
What are you settings in footstraps/mastfoot?
Any preference on the fins?
MEF

[Steve]

I ran my footstraps one from the back. I moved my mast base around a lot but kept it mostly around 143. I do not have enough time on this board to know if these settings are right. But keep in mind these numbers will change with different sails and riders.

[Unregistered]

Hello Steve,
I'm very interesting in EF2.
I found in Gaastra forum some impressions about new Exocet Formula2 - fast upwind, good angle and not the fastest downwind. I have L99. As all older formulas it is bit sticky downwind . How does EF2 feels downwind?

Also on L99 I feel like if i has too short back leg. Maybe it is because back footstraps are close to centerline on that board. Stance upwind often looks like this - bent forward leg and straight back leg and water washing back feet constantly. How does EF2 feels?

I can send photo of my stance

89

[Koen B-12]

Much of the downwind behaviour/feeling you describe on the L99 and XL99 was already solved with the TF100 and TF90.
Basicly the XL99 and TF100 had the same outline and strapposition, but it was the 2 hyperbola cutouts that made the big difference. The hyperbola's made you feel the board was lighter in the rear and easier to handle.
Compared to XL99 and L99, going downwind on the 2003 TF boards was a plessure
Patrice told me even that the TF100² is even better (and more easy) downwind then TF100, so no problem at all.

Soon (hopefully end of the month) I'll have my TF100² and I can't wait to go out and test it. My weakpoint has always been upwind angle and I have a good feeling that this will be solved with this board. Downwind performance when surfing on the edge is more about knowing your board and going 200% for it, keep your feet as long as possible in the outer straps, tighten those muscles and hold on to the sail. It is more fear and physical condition that is making the difference downwind. At least this is my experience.

[Steve]

The new Exocet Turbo formula 2 off the wind is much easier to sail than any previous Exocet formula board. The nose rides higher and does not stick. I feel I could drive this board off the rear leg and it feels more balanced than last years Turbo Formula. As far as the speed off the wind I have not sailed it enough to be sure yet. The control and comfort are there for sure but more direct head to head testing will have to be done. I should have some time next week to evaluate this board further.

[Unregistered]

thank you. will wait for news.

[John I]

Hi 89. I had a problem with the XL, L, and TF just as you described. I fixed both by raisng my boom quite a bit on all. Now I keep the boom higher still on the TF 100 than the other two. Maybe you've already tried this? Worked for me.

[windstock]

Steve
head to head testing will have to be done. I should have some time next week to evaluate this board further.

http://nationals.windsurfingnz.org/content/IMG_0831sliced.jpg

Ok it's next week where we gonna sail. Looks as though there could be some West in it.

[Unregistered]

John I, usually I set my boom at eyebrows or higher, and now I understand what happens! At the begining of the race everything is OK. But after downwind hanging on the boom hardly, the boom slides several cm down. At the end of the race or the day this problem becomes noticeable as "short back leg problem". I need to fix my boom better:)

89

[John I]

Tried the TF2 yesterday in some really marginal conditions. Wow. Talk about acceleration and responsiveness. I look forward to getting more TOW with this puppy. A true thoroughbred.

Dialing it in should prove to be even more rewarding. Patrice puts the mast base all the way forward. Steve handed it to me with it at the 144 cm mark. Betcha it'll feel more like the older more traditional boards with base fwd. Time will tell on that. Cheers.

[Unregistered]

Any more impressions about TF2?

[Steve]

I Should do some head to head testing this weekend.

Best Regards:
Steve

[Unregistered]

Hello, Steve
Have you tried TF2 this weekend? The winner used TF100.
Anybody used TF2?

89

[Steve]

I was on the TF 2 100. I had some good races but did not finish the long distance race that counted double. I was in 4 overall until then. The board feels really good to me very easy to sail and no problem to send it off the wind through chop. The wind was very up and down so it was very hard to evaluate speed as everyone was constantly in different wind. In most of the races the wind would drop to almost nothing and then fill in with some puffs over 20.Jason Voss the winner of the event rode the board after the event and is hoping they come in before midwinter's. I should be out more this week in some steady wind.

[Unregistered]

Hello, Steve
If you rebuild your powers and senses after such racing would be nice to hear about TF2 at Midwinters: upwind, downwind, reaches, planing, owerall etc:)
89

[Steve]

I have spent enough time on the TF2 to know it fairly well. I really like the board. It is much easier to sail than last years model. On last years model when the wind got much over 20 knots I would quickly be looking for the chicken strap. The new board just rides much easier off the wind even out on the rail. Upwind the board rides a lot different as well. It likes lots of power. When I can keep the sail really full the upwind pointing and speed are excellent. As soon as I flatten the sail out the pointing goes away. So far the mast base position seems best around 145 to 148. Still playing with footstrap location but two from the back feels good.

[Unregistered]

Wind was gusty and shifty. How TF2 feels in such conditions? Tacking, pumping, jumping onto a plane, acceleration, getting through lulls impresions - does the board stalls gradually or quickly?

Steve: "Upwind the board rides a lot different as well. It likes lots of power. When I can keep the sail really full the upwind pointing and speed are excellent."

L99 also likes full sail upwind. Mastposition seems the same. What way power was done? Releasing outhaul, or rigging sail a bit fuller with less downhaul? Does the board need to be flat or canted to leeward?

Also more power requires more equal power distribution on both legs. I told earlier about "short back leg" problem partially solved by seting boom higher. Can you compare stance on L99 and stance on TF2? What is different and what is the same?

Steve "It is much easier to sail than last years model." How does board feels on reaches? Speed, control, "slalom" feeling or big board feeling? Jibing?

What sail size you use?

Steve: "Still playing with footstrap location but two from the back feels good."
Two from the back - why? Because of comfort for feet, for leg, for stance, significant speed - control changes? How does feet feel ?

A lot of questions. Waiting for your answers with big hope:) Thank you in anticipation.

89

[Steve]

In shifty and gusty conditions the different skill levels between sailors becomes more noticeable. I felt the board worked well in these conditions with good acceleration. I also feel that the shorter length boards stay on a plane better through the light spots as they are less disturbed by the choppy conditions involved in racing with big fleets in up and down wind.
To increase power releasing downhaul is your last choice. You want increase power by running less outhaul. Railing the board up slightly both upwind and downwind helps its performance.
The Turbo Formula II drives better off the back leg than the L 99 did as the tail is a fair amount wider. The board is also faster reaching as it rides free of the water without wanting to fly away. Jibing is typical of a formula board kind of stiff but not difficult.
I have used from 12.5 to 9.8 on the board. I feel best with an 11.0 on it. With a 12.5 the board feels slightly small but once planing it is good.
You want to put footstraps as far back on a board as you are comfortable with. With more time on the board I may be able to move them back further. Keep in mind a narrow stance will make you taller for increased leverage but a wider stance offers more control.
I hope this helps with some of your questions

Best Regards:
Steve

[John I]

By the way, 89, I've used the L99 extensively. The best way to use the mast track on this board is different than some. I've had the base as far back as 136 in light, steady winds with nearly no chop. Usually, I run it at 139 or so. Seems to work for me well there in most conditions.

The TF2 I've only ridden a little, and the base at 144 was very lively. So, there's a big difference between the two just on base placement and, as Steve mentioned, tail width. I hope to sail the new board more soon.

[Unregistered]

Excuse me!!!!!
With so many people wondering around and guessing about TF100-2 settings, may I ask: Where the f**k is Patrice?????!!!!!!!

People could use some info about what the board likes or not, since exocet does not run a forum, nor do they answer direct e-mails. I think it would be veeery helpfull to most people if questions such as these were answered:
What fin does it like? (stiffness)
Mastfoot position
Footstraps?
Boom height?
Settings for 12.5?

AND WHY DOES AEROTECH NOT PRODUCE A 12.0m OR SOMETHING, SINCE THE BOARD DOES NOT NEEEEEEEED A 12.5 sail?
Or if it neeeds one, what settings should be applied to make it work???


Thanks, Just trying to get a little more juice out of the conversation.
PS: The board kicks ass ho
wever!

[Armand]

Hi unregistered,

At Exocet we do our best to answer all direct emails sent to contact@exocet-original.com , our public email adress. As we're quite busy at the moment it's however possible that we didn't answer rapidly to some emails. You can also find more informations on our web site and by e-mailing your local shop/distributor.

We are planing to lauch an Exocet forum soon, together with a new version of our website.

Regarding the Turbo Formula 100², I know that Patrice is using it with a forward mastfoot position and the board is so controlable that he sets his sail fuller than with the former TF100, even upwind.

Hope this help

Armand
Webmaster www.exocet-original.com

[Unregistered]

John I, the first day when I sailed L99 I used very back mastposition. Water was very flat and wind about 8-10kts. It was ok, but later, in stronger winds and chopy water I forgot that mastfoot position and sailed 144 light wind, 146-148 in stronger winds with 11sqm sail.
This year I think about TF2. I 'm 178cm, 80 kg. What sail size wil be good for 8 -16kts for inland lakes (shifty, gusty winds) and Baltic sea (chop, ~2m high waves)? What sail choose - widesleeve or narrow?


89